HTC Desire series

[philpepz]

I have had at least three conversations with 191 regarding this issue with the following solutions:

1. When querying why internet access was intermittent or received failed to connect - I was told that I had to join the queue at the closest mast.
2. Same question on a later call - I was told my chip was of an old type so a new one would be sent out that would work better. It did not.
3. On querying why my phone was suddenly dropping calls, accepting calls but not allowing me to hear the caller or constantly showing signal strength from 0 to full signal while standing still in a constant location - I was sent a replacement handset following a diagnostic check that showed no problems but they understood that there must be a problem otherwise why did I call.

Given that I only received this handset in cold call upgrade last July (my HTC Magic worked perfectly but the latest shiny new toy was calling me ) and my latest call with 191 relating to point 3 above resulted in a BIG disappointment I requested a quote for contract termination, £300+ due to 12+ months remaining of my contract was a big shock.

My problems seem to have begun since the last Android upgrade. So is there a problem with the Vodafone version? Has anyone else noticed similar problems?

Finally why can I not remove the Vodafone imposed software like 360 My Web, 360 Shop, Brick Breaker Revolution 2 Trial, Guitar Hero 5 Mobile Trial, Music Shop, Texas Hold'Em Poker Trial , Tower Bloxx NY Trial, UNO Trial and Updates?

[Matt]

Hi

Please try the steps in our Network Troubleshooting thread.

If you are still experiencing the issue having completed these steps, post the template with your answers here and I'll have a member of the team get back to you ASAP.

Thanks
Matt
Moderator

[philpepz]

1). Does the issue happen in just one location?

 NO

 
2). Does the issue occur if you try your SIM card in a different phone?

 NO

 
3). Can you check your coverage here? Please bear in mind that this is only a guideline and can never be 100% accurate, particularly for indoor coverage.

SEE ANSWER TO 2
 
4). Can you check our Faults Board, which contains all the mast issues we’re aware of.
 NO MAST ISSUES

5). Does this issue happen on 2G/3G or both. To check this, you can amend your phone's network settings, our Help Centre contains all the instructions, just select your model of phone and then select "network".

GSM ONLY HAS FULL SIGNAL, GSM/WCDMA auto  SIGNAL STRENGTH VARIABLE.
 
6). What is the full postcode of where the issue occurs (if you’re uncomfortable with this appearing on the forum, then please add it to your profile by clicking “My eForum Settings” on the front page and then selecting “Personal Information”

SEE PERSONAL INFORMATION
 
7). How far you have to travel to get signal

DEPENDS ON CURRENT AND MAST LOCATION
 
8). Do you get any error messages/tones if you’re having problems with calling/texting

NO

[philpepz]

1). Does the issue happen in just one location?

 NO

 
2). Does the issue occur if you try your SIM card in a different phone?

 NO

 
3). Can you check your coverage here? Please bear in mind that this is only a guideline and can never be 100% accurate, particularly for indoor coverage.

SEE ANSWER TO 2
 
4). Can you check our Faults Board, which contains all the mast issues we’re aware of.
 NO MAST ISSUES

5). Does this issue happen on 2G/3G or both. To check this, you can amend your phone's network settings, our Help Centre contains all the instructions, just select your model of phone and then select "network".

GSM ONLY HAS FULL SIGNAL, GSM/WCDMA auto  SIGNAL STRENGTH VARIABLE.
 
6). What is the full postcode of where the issue occurs (if you’re uncomfortable with this appearing on the forum, then please add it to your profile by clicking “My eForum Settings” on the front page and then selecting “Personal Information”

SEE PERSONAL INFORMATION
 
7). How far you have to travel to get signal

DEPENDS ON CURRENT AND MAST LOCATION
 
8). Do you get any error messages/tones if you’re having problems with calling/texting

NO

[DaveCD]

Hi phipepz

Thank you for your post and the additional information.

I have checked the local site to your postcode which is 3115 and can see that data, SMS and calls are all going through fine in the last 24 hours so it is not a network issue.

Please could you let me know what software your device is currently using and ensure that if there is a newer software that you upgrade to this.

Please back up all of your contacts and information and perform a hard reset, this will force your SIM to reconnect with the network, to do this 

- Switch the handset on
- Whilst powered up, remove the SIM card and battery
- Put the battery back in and switch on
- Wait a couple of minutes, then remove the battery again
- Replace the SIM and battery and switch back on

Let me know how you get on.

Many Thanks

DaveCD

eForum Team

[philpepz]

Software info:

Android : 2.3.5

HTC Sense : 3.0

Software No. : 3.13.161.3

Kernel : 2.6.35.10-g931a37ehtc-kernel@and18-2 #1 Wed Nov 9 14:04:03 CST 2011

Baseband : 12.65.60.29U_26.14.04.28_M

Build : 3.13.161.3 CL 208029 release-keys

Browser version : WebKit/533.1

Prior to hard reset I had change network type to GSM only. Used this without any dropping of calls and signal between 60-100%, except in rural Somerset on Friday where signal strength was averaging 30-40%.

Performed hard reset and have now set phone back to WCDMA Preferred to see if there is any improvement. If not it's back to GSM only.

Any answer as to how I can remove all the unwanted Vodafone installed software? I do not want to root the phone but if that is the only way to remove unwanted software....

[Dave]

Hi philpepz,

Thanks for getting us that information. That confirms you're using the most recent firmware version, and your troubleshooter results appear to rule out any localised cellsite issue.

How have you got on since the switch back? Lower coverage in more rural areas may just be down to local signal - I travel from Stoke to Cornwall by train quite frequently and lose signal in some areas of Devon and Somerset - so if you have the postcode, you can take a look at the coverage checker to see what the area is like.

If the standard options for deleting apps does not remove the programs you're looking to delete, then these would not be able to be removed. Please note that any Vodafone apps which are installed are designed to improve the customer experience, for example by helping manage your account or providing access to services and links.

Dave

[philpepz]

Hi Dave,

Your right that signal strength varies in Devon and Somerset but the lowest I reckon I had on GSM Only was 2 bars out of 4.

Since switching back to WCDMA Preferred (default setting), following the hard reset, I finally gave up and reverted back to GSM Only after 3 days because the signal strength is better when the phone is set to GSM Only even here in the KT4 area.

As to the software removal I do not mean the Vodafone 360 s/w, although I do not agree that it is "designed to improve the customer experience", I mean all the trial games that do not allow you to drag to the dustbin - well they do but then stubbornly refuse to delete from the phone.

[philpepz]

Oh well as I have not had any updates to my posts I guess we all can take it that the Vodafone branded HTC Desire HD has considerable problems that nobody wants to admit to or fix. I had two calls today that lost the signal/volume while talking!!!

Think I saw that someone else had the same problem as me and changed the handset twice without success.

Now, as the volume control has decided to break and stick out to the side, I have reverted back to my HTC Magic which the DHD was supposed to be an upgrade to. What a joke.

I have been with Vodafone Business for some years now, and cannot get out of the contract without paying more than the DHD is worth, but I will not be upgrading with them again. POOR SERVICE and crap phone.